Fire-ladder



(No ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1f G. W. RICH.-

FIRE LADDER. N0..261,874. PatentedvAug. 1, 1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. W. RICH.

. FIRE LADDER.

No; 261,874. Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. RICH, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,874, dated August1, 1882, Application filed April 22, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. R1011, of Portland, in the county ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Ladders; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation with thetubes and ladders elevated. Fig. 3 is a top plan. Fig. 4 is a sidesectional elevation of the pipes or tubes and the ladders. Fig. 5is anend view of the tubes and ladders and a view of the bar to which theraising-cords are attached. Fig. 6 is an end view of the tubes insection,, also a view of the pivot on which they turn when elevated,also a view of the arrangement to prevent the tubes from turning ontheir axes when in use.

Same letters show like parts.

My invention relates to fire-ladders.

It consists in the combination of an extensible ladder with certaintubes shutting one Within another, like telescopic tubes, with anelevating device and a bed or carriage, the raising of said ladders tobe effected by hydraulic pressure in the tubes, in the mannerhereinafter to be set forth.

a shows the carriage or bed. 12 b b show the ladders. c c 0 show thetubes to receive the water.

The ladder b is rigidly connected with the tube 0 by the metal band 1.The ladder I) is in the same way connected with the tube a by the metalband 2. In the case of thethird ladder and tube the same connection ismade by means of the metal band 3. As the tubes therefore are extendedor forced out by hydraulic pressure they draw with them the ladders thusattached to them. Water is admitted into the tubes at (2, into the tube0, or the stationary one. By its pressure the other two are successivelyforced out or extended, and thus the ladders are lifted up to a buildingin flames.

The tubes are prevented from turning on their own axes when moving up bythe pins 0 on the inner and the grooves f on the outer surfaces of theinner tubes.

The Water-pressure of a public system of water-works can be employed tooperate the device.

The tube 0 is pivoted to a carriage or bed at 9, so 'as to enable it toreceive the proper inclination, as seen in Fig. 2,-and the frame h,pulleys i, band j, and crank and Windlass 7c are used to give tubes andladders the desired angle of inclination and to hold them at suchinclination.

The ladders move one upon another in the common way through guides orways Z-that is, the guide of the ladder b is 011 the sides of the ladderb and those of I) on the sides of the ladder b, as seen in the drawings.

When the ladder is to be used the inlet d is connected with a hydrant,for instance, the water admitted into the stationary tube a, and by itspressure it will extend the tubes in the manner hereinbefore indicated.The upper end of the tube 0 is of course closed by a proper head; but itmay be fitted with a device for attaching a sprinkling-hose for use incase it becomes necessary to apply water at any point of a building towhich the fireman desires to gain access.

m is a hook to aid in carrying up a hose as the ladder is lifted.

It is manifest that my ladder could be set permanently by a building-inan excavation, for instance, by the side of a buildingand kept shutexcept in case of need, and thus by being connected with awater-pressure extended and used as a fire-escape from a burningbuilding.

a is an eye to receive a hook or other device on the upper end of anA-shaped support, to sustain the tubes and ladders when raised,

'as seen in Fig. 2.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

The combination, with the frame or bed a, of the ladders b b 1), tubes 0c 0, bands 1 2 3, pins 6, groovesf, frame h, pulleys i, bandj, and crankand Windlass Is, all as herein set forth, and to operate as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

J OHN P. KERRIGAN, WM. F. GooDWIN.

